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For Immediate Release

Break the Silence: Condemn the Violence!

WASHINGTON - In
light of reports that over 157 people were killed in Conakry, the
capitol of
Guinea, when troops opened fire on opposition protestors, Africa Action
unequivocally condemns this brutal repression and calls upon the U.S.
Government and the international community to publicly condemn the
actions of
the military Junta.

More worrying are reports that women are being
especially
targeted for abuse by the military.
Specific information has pointed to the fact that large numbers
of women
have been raped or sexually abused.

The military junta in Guinea must be held
accountable for
this gross violation of human rights.
Africa Action calls for an end to the culture of impunity that
has
prevailed so far in the country, before human rights conditions decline
further. The U.S. should focus on working with
the
African Union, the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS)
and civil
society organizations in the region so to protect human rights
activists and
advance democracy and rule of law in Guinea.

Gerald LeMelle, Executive Director of Africa
Action said
this morning, "This situation in Guinea is appalling.
While debate and divisions between political
parties are welcome, we are now receiving word of abductions, torture,
and rape
in the capitol area. The U.S. must
break the silence and publicly condemn the violence."

Adding to the international community's outrage
around this
week's violence in Guinea, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
condemned
'excessive use of force' against protesters in Guinea.

Michael Stulman,Associate Director for
Policy and
Communications adds, "Guinea cannot be relegated to the lists of
failed and
failing states on the continent. It is
one of the richest countries on the continent, in terms of mineral
wealth,
however, people in the region still live in abject poverty."

He added, "There is grassroots support for
democracy and
development, but the U.S. should exert greater leadership to support
human
security on the region."

###

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Africa Action is a national organization that works for political, economic
and social justice in Africa. Through the provision of accessible information
and analysis combined with the mobilization of public pressure we work
to change the policies and policy-making processes of U.S. and multinational
institutions toward Africa. The work of Africa Action is grounded in the history and purpose of its
predecessor organizations, the American Committee on Africa (ACOA), The
Africa Fund, and the Africa Policy Information Center (APIC), which have
fought for freedom and justice in Africa since 1953. Continuing this tradition,
Africa Action seeks to re-shape U.S. policy toward African countries.

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